Despite having a rather low libido, John - as recounted by the great "Ghosts of Highway 20" project, this caused a great deal of stress on his relationship with Linda - had decided to initiate sex with Rachanda's mother on the night of the teenage girl's disappearance. John would tell investigators, loved ones anyone interested, really, that he didn't know what had happened to the missing girl. While I'd like to point out that he was already serving five life sentences without the possibility of parole, and was already in poor health at the time charges were filed, it is worth pointing out that this plea deal was agreed upon by Rachanda's living family members primarily, her brother Byron, who had struggled to come to grips with his sister's loss for decades. However, following the disappearance of John's stepdaughter, investigators had begun looking into the dormant case of Kaye Turner. She said he threatened to do to me exactly what they did to Kaye Turner., REMEMBERING RACHANDA (Photo 1 of 4): Byron Pickle is 42 and lives in Aumsville with his wife and two children. Rachanda declined, citing the chores her mother expected her to finish, he said. He would be charged with two counts of aggravated murder and three counts of murder, accused of conspiring to kidnap, rape, and murder Kaye Jean Turner nearly two decades prior. He is also a suspect in the deaths of two other young women. A police photo taken inside the Ackroyd home. In the case of Kaye Turner, he had guessed that the woman had been shot and stabbed to death. A public records request by The Oregonian/OregonLive led a judge to order the release details of the agreement and other documents in the court file. She was last seen at her home on July 10, 1990. 41-year-old John Arthur Ackroyd was suspected of involvement in this case very early on, simply because he was the last person to have seen Rachanda Pickle before she went missing. His partner, Detective Will McAnulty, sat nearby. Seiber is shown here with her daughter. Somebody could have just come in, he said, knocked her over the head, throw her over the shoulders and just walk out without anybody seeing her. Rachanda, circa 1990; Age-progression to age 41 (circa 2018); John Arthur Ackroyd, circa 1990; Ackroyd, circa 2013. When youre a young kid used to living in Springfield and you go to the Santiam Junction, its like this is a desolate area.. Rachanda Lea Pickle Rachanda, approximately 1990; Age when reported missing: 41 (approximately 2018); John Arthur Ackroyd, approximately 1990; Ackroyd, approximately 2013 . When speaking to news station KRWQ, Steven would state that he believed Rachanda had run away from home, citing some missing clothing from her bedroom. In 1990, Rachanda Pickle lived with her mother, brother and stepfather, John Ackroyd. Kaye had been raped and shot, Beck told Pam. While this seems like more of an empty gesture than anything to me personally, prosecutors claimed that this deal - agreed upon in 2013 - would have kept John Arthur Ackroyd behind bars for the rest of his life. On Tuesday, April 2, John Ackroyd was arrested and transported to the Linn County Jail for the homicide of Rachanda Pickle. She French-braided her moms hair, then settled on the couch to watch cartoons in her pajamas. They continued to live together, though, raising Linda's two kids, Rachanda and her older brother, Byron. While Rachanda would ask her mother not to go to work that morning, Linda - focused on getting ready for work - didn't really take notice of the request, later recalling to the Statesman Journal: "I woke her up at about ten after five to have her french-brain my hair. Ackroyd, 67,. One time, she made a scene when it was time to go. Within weeks, Melissa and Sheila were dead. Chandy remains missing. Rachanda's year-older brother, Byron Pickle, is still tormented that he hadn't hugged her the last time he saw her, and he feels like he should have done more to protect her from their stepfather. This is about 150 miles southeast of Portland and about 80 miles northeast of Eugene. John Arthur Ackroyd would remain one of investigators' top suspects in this case, and as a result, would be questioned several times alongside a friend of his (whom police considered a potential accomplice). Its rough country and theres lots of brush.. John Ackroyd, a longtime state highway worker, died alone in his prison celllate last year while serving a life sentence in another murder. Rachanda Lea Pickle Missing since July 10, 1990 from Sweet Home, Linn County, Oregon. Their clothes were spattered with so much blood that she got rid of Becks jeans and shirt. If she had been believed, all of these crimes might have been avoided. At times, the effort included more than 100 deputies and volunteers from Linn, Lane, Benton, Marion, Douglas, Deschutes and Jefferson counties. Rachanda Pickles mother and stepfather waited 24 hours to report the girls disappearance to 911. Byron was Rachandas companion and playground protector. John Ackroyd had an unusual arrangement with Rachandas mother, Linda. She asked if she could sleep over. After a four-week trial which took place in the latter half of 1993, John Arthur Ackroyd was convicted for Kaye Turner's death and was later given five life sentences without the possibility of parole. Linda Monville said she believes her daughter is dead, but shes still not convinced her former husband is responsible. He was the last person to see both, exhibited troubling behavior at the time of their disappearance, provided investigators with both conflicting and troubling information, involved himself in the search parties and investigation, and then - when questioned - offered up troubling guesses for the victim's fate. We saw no human movement at all; no tracks, no nothing.". She said no and he left. Linda Monville, Rachanda's mother, keeps this photo of Rachanda and Byron on a shelf in her home. By then, Ackroyd was dead; he had died in prison in late 2016. Who was the last person that saw her, do you know?the dispatcher asked the girl's mother. The next several days would see extensive searches in the area around the maintenance complex, where Rachanda lived with her mother, brother, and stepfather. The responsibility of speaking for Rachanda rested with her brother, Byron Pickle. Rachanda's photo is shown age-progressed to 41 years. Ackroyds low libido was the source of such open conflict that Lindas teenage son, Byron, knew of their troubles. In 1990, Rachanda Pickle lived with her mother, brother and stepfather, John Ackroyd. Linn County District Attorney Doug Marteeny said he wanted to ensure Ackroyd would spend the rest of his life in prison. Middle Name: Lea. Ackroyd told authorities Rachanda was watching cartoons when he asked her if she wanted to go for a ride. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Linn County Sheriff's Office Plows stood ready to rumble onto the mountain pass during winter storms. He refused to disclose the location of Rachanda's body and his plea didn't require him to. Her mother left behind a short list of chores. "We asked the brother what his desire was and his desire to take this deal and keep him in prison forever.". Take hot dogs out of the freezer. She has never been heard from again. She introduced the women to him and they climbed in. Jim Salsbery was instrumental in the investigation that culminated with Ackroyds conviction in the death of Kaye Jean Turner. When the couple pulled into the compound that evening, Rachanda wasnt hanging around outside like she had the day before. He said he didnt know. Time had fogged her memory, but on one point she was clear: The men ordered her to lie if police asked where they were that morning. Then, in the waning days of December 2016, it was announced that 67-year-old John Arthur Ackroyd, who had long been suffering from numerous health issues, had passed away from heart disease inside of his prison cell. The family had lived at the state highway compound for six years. Uniformed deputies, mounted posses, and members of the Explorer Post (a search and rescue group) would search the ground level of the neighboring woods, while a Linn County helicopter searched above them. Prior to her disappearance, Rachanda and her brother regularly went to school with bruises, and Rachanda told her friends Ackroyd had caused the injuries. It wasn't until Oregonian reporters began digging into this case - following Ackroyd's death - that details of this plea deal would be released to the world at large. Prosecutors stated that information obtained during the investigation into Rachanda Pickle's disappearance had ultimately led to these charges being filed approximately two years later. He later told police that when he did return, the front door was partly open, and a pellet gun he owned was propped up against a camper, with a box of pellets nearby. On Christmas Eve morning, Ackroyd showed up at the house. Where is she? Linda asked Ackroyd as darkness enveloped the highway compound. Turner, a 35-year-old that typically lived in Eugene, worked for the Lane County Office of Community Health and Social Services, but had previously worked for the area's Planned Parenthood Association and also happened to be a rather well-known runner. However, she agreed to go with him later to pick up Linda from work. She did, and because of this wait, Rachanda wasn't reported missing until Wednesday, July 11th, and the search to find her wouldn't begin until the day after that, Thursday, July 12th. It was during this period - the two years following Rachanda's disappearance - that investigators made a realization. The men ate and left to poach deer, not returning until the next day, she said. She lives in San Bernardino, California, where she works at a medical supply company. He's never went out of hand or spanked my kids against my will. They ended up staying at Lake Creek Lodge with a small group of friends for Christmas, and Kaye Turner - hoping to take advantage of the quiet surroundings on the morning of Christmas Eve - headed out on a six-mile jog through the woods. Her mother noticed the girls hairbrush, makeup and earrings were still there. These many months later, John Arthur Ackroyd claimed to have discovered bone fragments while walking his dog in a wooded area nearby. Making matters even more complicated was Rachanda's father, Steven Pickle, casting doubt on investigators' statements towards the end of July. Lt. Darrel James, who had coordinated the search efforts, told reporters during a press briefing: "There's no reason to think she ran away, and no information that she just walked off playing around. But Rachanda grew homesick and came back a few days before her disappearance. He knew it was Ackroyd who had eventually led police to her remains. Rachanda's stepfather, John Arthur Ackroyd, is the last person known to have seen her. The Oregon Department of Justice has additional information and resources for survivors of sexual violence. One of Rachanda's dolls sits atop a shelf in the tidy manufactured home in California where her mother now lives. Rachanda Pickle's brother, Byron Pickle, was consulted during the state's negotiations with Ackroyd, Marteeny said. No, what do you think I am? Ackroyd said, his voice rising in rare agitation. The couple ate; then they had sex, significant because they almost never did. When asked what had inspired this change, after so many years of inactivity, officials would state that advancements in DNA testing led to this decision, although they would not speak in any specifics ahead of the expected trial date. Rachanda had one older brother named Byron, who was a little more than a year older than her, and the two would grow up with their mother, Linda, but would remain close to their father, whom they visited regularly. These sporadic sightings extended not only through Oregon, but throughout a large chunk of the country; in particular, along the west coast, ranging as far south as California and as far north as Vancouver. If she was going to plan to run away, she would have taken her makeup and her clothes, but nothing was missing. If he could have kept his mouth shut, this case would have gone nowhere.". She spotted two young women she knew. She would end up making the decision to be driven back to her mother's home in Santiam Junction, while her older brother, Byron, decided to stay behind with his father. Police and court records filled a file cabinet in the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office. I asked her what happened, Cook said, and she said, My stepdad did this. Cook is shown here with her two daughters. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. A police photo taken inside the Ackroyd home shows Rachanda Pickle's bra. John had also been one of the last people to see her alive, and - if you recall from the introduction - had led police to her partial remains eight months later (which he claims he discovered through mere happenstance). To this day, this remains one of the few decisions in Bryon's life that he wishes he could change. The night of RachandaPickles disappearance, John Ackroydinitiated sex with Linda Ackroyd. The home showed no signs of foul play. Linda was getting ready to head to work at Black Butte - near Sisters, about thirty miles east - and asked for some help doing her hair. Ackroyd drove by the woman twice that morning. The Charley Project is NOT a registered non-profit organization and any donations will NOT be tax-deductible. Bill Hanlon, the district attorney in Jefferson County, wasnt surprised when the call came from a prosecutor in Linn County, where Ackroyd lived. They kept their exasperation in check, rarely raising their voices as they combed fine details for any new revelation. Detective Mike Harmon with the Linn County Sheriff's Office told reporters: "It's difficult to prove that a 13-year-old doesn't exist. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. She cried as she told one of them that she was terrified of returning to the junction alone. In the case of Rachanda, however, he told investigators that she had been, as recounted by the Oregonian in their "Ghosts of Highway 20" project: " dumped and buried in the woods or threatened with a knife, tied up and gagged, her body rolled in plastic". He offered stability and helped provide for her two children. At the time of his death in December of 2016, this case was still suspended, and the murder charges filed more than three years earlier (2013) were permanently dismissed. There was Ackroyd, standing at the back of his Ford pickup. The two often went to school with bruises, which they attributed to John's abuse. There are lots of nooks and crannies that you cant see by air, Martinak said, adding that a helicopter search was especially useful for steep areas where someone on foot or horseback couldnt effectively search. A police photograph shows evidence from the investigation into Kaye Turners murder. Sadly, searches of the area would be unable to come up with any answers; whatever had happened to Kaye Turner, she seemed to have disappeared into thin air. Rachanda and her brother regularly went to school with bruises, and Rachanda told her friends Ackroyd had caused the injuries. However, as recounted by family members, later on, she never ventured too far out into the woods unless she had her big brother Byron with her. Last seen alive: July 10, 1990. This skull would be sent off for analysis in May of 1996, but months would pass before it was announced that scientists from Pennsylvania State University had been unable to extract DNA from the partial pieces of bone. During the ensuing court case, defense attorneys would argue that John Arthur Ackroyd was slow-witted and mentally deficient, to the point of him being unaware of specific questions asked by investigators. The first time he stared ahead as Corinna Strouse waved hello. He had his sisters image tattooed on his arm last year. First Name: Rachanda Lea. He would check on her at recess, recalled Mandy Cook, a childhood friend and classmate who now lives in Amarillo, Texas. While he had always been a suspect for investigators, suspicion into him had seemed to wane after police came up empty-handed. During interviews, John had also told investigators that Kaye Turner had likely been stabbed and shot to death, which was later confirmed by tests conducted years after her murder. She was afraid to go home from school; as a . We always believed Ackroyd had something to do with his stepdaughters murder, said Salsbery, who retired in 1996. In interviews, Ackroyd dwelled on how the teen had gotten her period and had begun to develop. Former Detective Sgt. He recalled that Rachanda was on the living room couch in her pajamas, watching cartoons, at the time. Hed planned to fix snowplows but decided to take the day off after learning parts hadnt arrived, a claim that baffled his supervisor, who said there was plenty of work to keep Ackroyd busy. It was even discovered that Rachanda was sometimes afraid to go home after school, taking additional clothes with her every day in case she was able to stay the night at a friend's house. While his marriage to Linda was rather unusual - the couple divorced after a year, but continued to live together and were still technically a "couple" in every sense of the word - the family seemed to have become accustomed to this quiet little corner of the world. Rachanda Pickle didn't want to be alone with her stepfather, John Ackroyd. She said no and he left. Sadly, for all of these cases - as was the case with his stepdaughter's disappearance - Ackroyd went to the grave with whatever answers he may have had. You know, he said, both of you sitting there pointing your fingers at me, and I didnt do nothing.. Eight months would pass before investigators discovered what had happened to the missing woman. "We asked the brother what his desire was and his desire to take this deal and . The more that investigators spoke with John Ackroyd, the more troubled they became. The young man, who worked as a mechanic for Oregon's Highway Division, lived at a maintenance company about twenty miles west of Camp Sherman. These are the deadliest national parks in the U.S. Burkina Faso massacre: Survivors accuse government forces. Rachandas green nightgown was on her bedroom floor. Ackroyd is a suspected serial killer: he's doing life right now for a 1978 murder (he was convicted in 1994), and is a suspect in two other women's disappearances besides Rachanda's. Circumstances: Rachanda was last seen at her home on July 10, 1990. Years later, his ex-wife told police Beck and John Ackroyd told her to lie to police about their whereabouts the morning of Kaye's disappearance. Friends described her as silly and goofy. Before Ackroyd entered their lives, their mother cycled through boyfriends and husbands. The couple had since divorced and Pam had moved to California. Rachanda was noted as standing about four feet tall and weighing approximately 90 pounds at the time of her disappearance, with curly brown hair and brown eyes. Her body has never been found. Load the dishwasher. McAnulty, whod been promoted to detective just 10 days earlier, dutifully examined old newspaper articles and reports. Last updated April 1, 2021; clothing/jewelry description and details of disappearance updated. Hed pored over Ackroyds police interviews from 1979 when the highway worker admitted he was the last person to see Kaye Turner. The girl told her mother she didnt want to return home after a visit to her grandparents. You can cancel at any time. It started when a supervisor in the Linn County Sheriffs Office assigned McAnulty to organize press clippings from the early days of the investigation. achanda Pickles stepfather could turn angry in a flash. When the dispatcher asked why she hadnt called sooner, Linda said she assumed she had to wait 24 hours to report a missing person. Could trucks be to blame for killing more pedestrians? Brown hair, brown eyes. Linn County Sheriff's Office mounted extensive search for Rachanda Pickle in 1990 SWEET HOME Rachanda Pickle was wearing a T-shirt, black sweat pants and tennis shoes when the 13-year-old. The last person known to have seen her: John Ackroyd. According to her brother, Byron, she loved fashion and anything that you'd hear on a top-40 radio station. A tipster had claimed that Rachanda was still alive, and residing in eastern Linn County. In addition to some bone fragments, police were able to uncover the underpants, running shoes, and wristwatch she had been wearing at the time of her disappearance, in addition to pieces of her sweatshirt (which appeared to have been partially destroyed). Cook said Rachanda once came to school with a black eye. However, on Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013 - nearly 23 years after his stepdaughter's disappearance - John Arthur Ackroyd would be charged with her murder by Linn County prosecutors. By early 1992, investigators were closing in on Ackroyd. It was great, Ackroyd would later tell detectives. In class, she counted down the minutes, a sense of dread rising as the end of the school day approached. Because of the time she had been gone - weeks, almost a month now - authorities were fairly certain that even if she was out in the woods somewhere, they were unlikely to save her. Missing From: SISTERS, OR. Ackroyd made the plea in open court, but then it was immediately sealed at his request. Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Despite the disappearance of Rachanda Pickle causing massive changes in the lives of those that had known her, her case would remain unshakeable over the next several years. As had been the case beforehand, nothing of any significance was found during these searches. In the months after Rachanda's disappearance, Rachanda's mother Linda would officially separate from her stepfather John, moving away to Portland. He was arrested a little less than two years later for his involvement in the murder of Kaye Turner, and spent the rest of his shitty, miserable life behind bars. While they had never discovered what had happened to the missing teenager, there was another unsolved case that John Ackroyd was attached to On June 12th, 1992, John Arthur Ackroyd was arrested while at work in Corvallis, Oregon. She was calm as she told the dispatcher that her daughter, a homebody, had gone missing. Another time, they snuck her into their bedroom closet.
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